56 Years Ago
The October 5, 1970 Golden Transcript reported that the buildings for Heritage Square were under construction. Built on the site of the short-lived Magic Mountain amusement park (1959-1960), Heritage Square was originally planned to be a “village” for artists and craftsmen, who would have workshops and sell their work on site.
Heritage Square’s function expanded over time, as ownership changed and new tenants arrived with different offerings. An amusement park joined the mix, then an alpine slide was built up the side of the mountain. A small-scale railroad circled the park. A go-kart track was built, and a pond was stocked with fish so visitors could go fishing. “Spider Mansion” haunted house opened every fall for many years.
The Heritage Square Opera House (later changed to Music Hall) offered melodramas and musical comedies. The Heritage Square Children’s Theater lives on through Miners Alley Playhouse Children’s Theater, which is run by one of the Heritage Square alumni.
In 2015, the property owner (Martin Marietta Materials) announced that they would close the park. Most of the buildings were demolished.
